Waking Up

Sam Harris argues that spirituality can be separated from religion and understood through neuroscience and psychology, with meditation treated as a rational practice. Part memoir, the book also explores the scientific basis of spiritual experience and the idea that the sense of self is an illusion. Harris draws on split-brain research and philosophy of mind, gives short meditation guidance, and describes his time with Eastern meditation teachers and his experience of Dzogchen, a Tibetan Buddhist practice. He also covers psychedelics and judging spiritual teachers, and takes issue at length with Proof of Heaven, Eben Alexander's Christian reading of a near-death episode. Released in 2014, it hit number five on the New York Times nonfiction best seller list.

Fabrice Grinda called it a carefully reasoned analysis of spirituality without religion, and WiderFunnel founder Chris Goward recommends it as a fuller account of mindfulness practice outside religion.